AIC First XV rugby Rd 1: Howard brothers blitz, Laurie’s matchwinner
AIC First XV rugby Rd 1: Ashgrove’s Howard brothers dazzled, Laurie’s climbed heartbreak hill while Padua and the Saints marched in during a whirlwind start to the season. Story here.
Local sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The AIC First XV rugby season returned with a bang on Saturday afternoon, as Ashgrove, St Laurence’s, St Edmund’s and Padua found themselves round one winners.
At Runcorn, St Laurence’s hero Tom Nadenic scored the match winning try to pip Iona College 29-27 on the cusp of time, while across town at Ashgrove, Marist’s Joel Drew scored three tries to deliver the swarm a 48-10 victory.
HOSPITAL CLUB SPECIAL: 80+ UNDER 23 YOUNG GUNS
ROUND 4: PREMIER RUGBY; COLTS TEAMS OF THE WEEK
At Indooroopilly, St Edmund’s defeated St Peters 25-15 while at Banyo Padua lock Will Ross made a stunning debut as the home side warmed their engines with a 43-15 win over St Patrick’s.
St Laurence’s college’s dear old friend, the pick and drive, drove the home side to a dramatic last-gasp win over Iona College at Runcorn.
Captain Tom Nadenic scored the winner seconds from full time while Xavier Santos kicked the winning conversion to hoist their side ahead of a gutted Iona 29-27.
What a match it was as Laurie’s started like the trains which hurtled through the nearby train station, fumbled in the middle of the match, and then regathered themselves at the death.
Some could argue the better side, Iona, lost, but you have to hand it to the winning culture of a succession of St Laurence’s First XV players who last lost in round 4, 2019.
Laurie’s were off the pace, and at certain times hustled and bustled into error by Iona, but hats off to the old crew of lock Nadenic and No.8 Den Davis who both scored two tries apiece.
“It was an ugly win,” said St Laurence’s coach Welmar du Plessis.
“We made it difficult for ourselves and our discipline cost us big time.
“We gave them easy outs to get into our own half and that is something we have to look at as a team.
“In terms of the pick and drive. We know we are good at it.
“If the game is tight and we are close to the line we back ourselves to get the job done.”
Iona coach Paul Davey said before the match he told his Iona players if they were still in the game in the 65th minute they had done a great job - and they were.
But having climbed the mountain and led 27-22 with seconds left, they just could spike the school’s flag on the summit.
“The effort was amazing. It was a great game of footy,” Davey said.
Iona looked as though they would win when super sub centre Jack Pascoe ran 40m from a line out turnover. But alas, the Laurie’s forwards had the final say.
Four times either Laurence’s forward leaders Nadenic or Davis scored, and they, along with hooker Huw Griffiths were fabulous.
Just as good was Iona flanker Adam Kelly, who also scored his teams first try, while mountain man prop Lehopo Leota was a huge threat.
Leota scored to give his side a 20-15 advantage, but back Laurie’s came courtesy of a decisive run by fullback Santos.
From close to the line Davis, on his hands and knees, made it over to out his side ahead again 22-20.
Then came Pascoe’s shock try and Iona looked headed toward victory.
It was 10-all at halftime after Iona had no doubt gained confidence from St Laurence’s errors.
Iona had also expertly taken advantage of the absence of one of the Laurie’s centres (yellow card) to drive an attacking raid through the mid field, with Lachlan Smith putting winger Connor Quinn over.
RELATED LINKS
AIC FIRST XV RUGBY PLAYERS TO WATCH
WOMEN’S PREMIER RUGBY TEAM OF THE WEEK
COLTS 1; HOSPITAL CUP PREMIER RUGBY TEAMS OF THE WEEK
In this period there was also a try saving tackle by Tom O’Callaghan on Iona’s Blaze Mohi, and then another important tackle by Thomas Croft on Iona’s Matt Doherty.
Just how important those tackles would become was not known until the full time whistle
Scores: St Laurence’s 29 (Davis, Nadenic 2 tries, Mackay try; Santos 2 convs) defeated Iona 27 (Kelly, Pascoe, Quinn, Leota tries; Rolfe 2 con, pen).
On McMahon oval, Tom Howard had his fingerprints all over Ashgrove’s 48-10 win against Villanova.
Howard was electric, stepping and weaving through the Villanova defences to capture a 34-0 half time advantage, which Villanova fought gallantly to overcome.
The 17-year-old fullback was in everything, setting up tries with his elusive ball carrying as Ashgrove ran rampant with five stunning tries in the first 35 minutes.
Into the second half, Villanova capitalised on Ashgrove mistakes to dot down two tries which got the green and gold crowd up on their feet.
Busy inside centre Nate Wallin got his side into their flow, as Ashgrove strayed away from what got them ahead in that first half when line out target Christian Kurylewski started some entertaining running rugby displayed by Jasper Barry (No. 8), Lachie McCall (halfback), the Howard brothers Xavier and Tom, and inside centre Tom Millard.
A much improved second half showing by the Villa side saw them just lose the second thirty five minutes 14-10, but despite Villa’s improvement the game had been won by Ashgrove in the first half.
It was during this period Year 12 debutant Millard and Howard had a white hot start to season ’24.
Millard had performed very well prior to this in the preseason, and earnt the No. 12 jumper through hard work.
He outdid himself on Saturday.
HOWARD BROTHERS
It was some first half by Ashgrove, engineered by Howard brothers one and two.
Ashgrove captain Tom Howard was enthralling to watch with his kick returns getting the home side in striking distance while his brother Xavier, in his debut, made excellent decisions.
On one occasion, Xavier cut out his brother Tom to put a barnstorming Jasper Barry in for a try under the sticks.
On Xavier’s inside was blonde-haired crash runner Millard, whose excellent trial form translated into safe hands on the paddock.
One try, plenty of post contact metres and a handful of line breaks summed up the inside centres wonderful entrance to First XV rugby.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Ashgrove winger Joel Drew was awarded man of the match following a three try rampage on the right wing.
The hurdles ace was close to his best, storming away for three titanic tries – all thanks to his speed.
He would be the first to thank McCall for the quick ball and his inside backs for drawing attention towards the middle of the field so that he could wind up and dive over.
NEVER GIVING UP
You could not fault the effort of Villanova, who despite being down 34-0 at one stage, kept pounding away at Ashgrove’s defensive line.
It was a spirited second half comeback attempt, which saw flanker Will Gallagher, fly half Lachie Francis, young fullback Max Rakitovszky, and No. 8 Jackson Connor challenge their foes.
Front rowers Harry Higgins, Nick Peteto and Sam Binney were strong for Villanova, while Ashgrove hooker Josh Heinrich impressed with his pinpoint goalkicking.
COLTS 1 RUGBY: HOW YOUR CLUB FARED IN ROUND 3
TAS RUGBY: THE 20 SUPER PLAYERS FROM ROUND 1 ACTION
At Indooroopilly, St Edmund’s recorded one of their most pleasing victories in recent time, according to coach Andrew Kirk.
He said “that would be up there in our top three wins … We showed a lot of resilience,” about one of his best wins as a coach at the school.
Fly half Tiger Campbell had his radar working off the tee, and scored 20 of his team’s 25 points on the day with two tries, two penalties and two conversions getting his side across the line.
The other five points were scored by winger Lachlan Perry, who reeled in a deft cross field kick from none other than Campbell.
He had the ball on a string, and has benefited massively from his time in the Ipswich Jets Meninga Cup under-19s squad.
“He is starting to mature as a footy player … that’s massive for a 16-year-old,” Kirk said in praise of Campbell, who came off the bench last year as a playmaker.
St Peters dominated at scrum time.
They were spearheaded by an unrelenting forward pack comprising of Paul Deeb, Ben Ferguson, Xavier Cowain, Nigel Sherriff, Alex Brown, James Kenny, Daniel Norris and Solomone Koroi, with Norris the pick of the bunch.
Norris was awarded the Doubles Daley medal for his deeds, and not far behind him would have been Wallace Charlie who, despite being well contained, was dangerous.
He was exceptional and a young St Edmund’s side did a terrific job to control him, limit his damage, and keep him contained for much of the contest.
“To our guys credit we absolutely shut him down. The boys executed to a tee,” said Kirk.
“For a really young side we were really happy.
“One of the most pleasing games as a coach I have ever had.”
Kirk said livewire fullback Charlie reminded him of Floyd Aubrey, who could make his Super Rugby debut against the Blues on Saturday.
“He (Charlie) is an Australian rep for a reason … He reminds me of Floyd Aubrey when he played for Ashgrove. He was outstanding.”
Kirk got plenty of productivity out of inside centre Harry Vidler, the man of the match who worked harder than anyone.
Upfront, Cruz Boxsell stepped up and was outstanding, as was vice-captain Will Tatt took it to his rivals with sheer physicality.
Indeed the visitors played 15 minutes with a man down, St Edmund’s doing a tremendous job despite losing two warriors to the sin bin.
For St Peters, there was plenty to like, especially that scrum.
Their inability to capitalise on field possession however saw them miss the mark on a day where Norris, Charlie and breakdown terror Alex Brown (lock) would have been the best on ground.
The way the Saints forwards muscled up in every area, at the breakdown or with their post contact metres, was a great starting point to begin the season.
At Banyo, Padua College scored seven tries on its way to a 45-15 win over Paddies in a northern local derby.
Padua five-eight Damon Humphrys was a puppeteer with his kicking game and his feeding of centres Nate Clark and Ollie O’Regan in what was a complete team performance. “Everyone was on point in the first half, so I was pretty happy with that,’’ said Padua coach Andrew Clyne.
Towering local Ross shone on debut as Padua started strongly, mounting an early lead before dropping intensity in the second half.
Ross was in the 10As last year and progressed quickly after gaining Queensland under 16 representative football.
No. 8 Will Tozer also led the side as captain. “He is skipper and works hard and does the detail and the one per cent plays.’’
For St Patrick’s hooker Manaaki Bateman and vice-captain, centre Matt Condon, did their best work for Paddies.
Director of Sport Jim Potts said St Patrick’’s did not hit the ground running and the group would need to improve next week.
Footnote: Watch for our coverage via www.couiermail.com.au each Saturday evening. Also look out for regular Team of the Week stories.
Round 2
St Patrick’s v Villanova
Iona v St Edmund’s
Marist v Padua
St Peters v St Laurence’s
GPS First XI Round 1: Nudgee given the Hook, IGS v Terrace thriller
GPS First XI cricket sensation: A BBC student who recently trained at Scotland’s Celtic FC, the Terrace rugby halfback ace and a BSHS bowling rookie were round one heroes. Reports here.
Hall eager to be back in the pool for cherished cause
Australian flag bearer and five time Paralympian Brenden Hall has reflected on his whirlwind Paris games as he uncovers his new found motivation for life in the pool.